Uhuru singles out national cohesion, winning war on graft as key aspects of his legacy.
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| President Uhuru Kenyatta and other dignitaries touring the MPESA Foundation Academy in Thika on Wednesday. |
While responding to a question by a student at the MPESA Foundation Academy when he presided over the official opening of the Sh3 billion ultra-modern facility in Thika, the president said that these two targets will ensure growth in the country and unity across the nation.
“I would want to see Kenya being a more united and cohesive society. I also hope we shall have won the war against corruption by the time my term in office comes to an end in 2022,” he said.
He urged students to work hard and embrace integrity in whatever they do so as to succeed in life, saying they should not overlook their individual talents.
“It does not make a difference what grade you get. There are those who will not go to university but that does not necessarily mean you are a failure, you are not. You have the opportunity to become the best farmer or the best musician. Just do your best and the rest will sort itself out,” President Kenyatta advised.
The Head of State emphasized that his Government was keen to incorporate the ideas and innovation of young people in achieving the Big 4 Agenda.
“We will engage you and others, and see how we can use your innovation and ideas to achieve the Big 4 Agenda,” said President Kenyatta, who had earlier toured an exhibition at the academy where the students displayed their innovations.
Emphasising that the four pillars of the Big 4 Agenda will rely on skilled and motivated Kenyans who share a common vision for Kenya, President Kenyatta said his Government has allocated more than Ksh. 430 billion in this financial year to the education sector
“These funds will go towards supporting our schools and teachers as they nurture the minds of our young learners,” President Kenyatta said.
“We also intend to build more education facilities, to improve the existing ones, and to make education affordable and accessible to all," he added.
The Head of State pointed out that his Government appreciates the fact that no real and progressive education can be realised today without technology being at the core of its curriculum.
“It is for this reason that my Government pushed through the Primary School Digital Learning Programme, and continues to provide devices in schools to enhance learning,” the President said.
President Kenyatta also applauded the Public Private Partnerships approach to development, saying the MPESA Academy is a good example that both the public and private sectors are playing an important role in accelerating development and providing opportunities for the less privileged members of the society.
Speaking during the same event, Education Cabinet Secretary Amb. Amina Mohamed announced that national exams have kicked off smoothly across the country without any hitches.
M-Pesa Foundation Chairman Michael Joseph said that about 800 students from poor families are set to benefit from full secondary school scholarships at the academy which opened its doors to the first group of students in 2016.
CEO Les Baillie on his part said that it is run with funds generated from the 23 million MPESA subscribers.
The academy is a mixed boarding high school and besides preparing students for KCSE, it has redesigned subjects taught so that they are delivered in diverse and excitable ways.
It currently has 487 students.
Those who attended included former Vice-President Moody Awori, Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, Thika Town MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina among others.
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